Death Mark

It might have been afternoon, but Celestia's sun was still high and bright.

Nursery only took real note of it because Grave Beetle seemed unaffected as he followed her out into the street. Showing no discomfort standing in broad sunlight even as they went to the corner to hail a chariot.

Not that Nursery believed in the old mare's tales and movie tropes of Nocturnes turning to dust in sunlight, but they were nocturnal.
"Are you alright being up at this hour?"

Golden eyes flicking to her, she thinks that the gloom the helmet casts over his face seems almost permanent. "Being active during Day is...strange to me, yes. Not intolerable, and I have done it before."

Well, that was good.

"I take it our subjects for questioning are also living on a day-centric cycle, or a crepuscular one?"

"What's a crepuscular?" She asks.

"Waking from midday to midnight," he explains.

Nursery feels her face heat in embarrassment at her own ignorance. "Yes, crespu- uh, crepuscular, that. Though one family is Nocturnal, so...it's going to be a late night for me. Well, for both of us since you're joining me."

"Hm." His only acknowledgement is the flick of a tufted ear, and Nursery is fine with that. He's an unwanted foalsitter and this is business.
Returning her focus to her sheaf of papers, she flicks through the contents. Might as well catch up on the details; it's a long chariot ride to the first visit on the very edge of Canterlot.

More efficient to go to the furthest away during daylight and work back from there, since a lot of chariot routes close at sun-lowering. Safe city aside, it's a little creepy walking back at night.

She wonders; would Grave Beetle find it the opposite? Is walking in daylight unnerving in the same way she finds walking at night?
Curious, she glances over.
Grave Beetle is sat right next to her, but from what little she knows of Pegasi behaviour, he's stiff and professional. Wings furled tight, tail held close to the side away from her. Front hooves set together, back straight and alert. Ears constantly swivelling to catch sound.
She catches glimpses of short grey fur, but otherwise, shadow sticks to the underside of every segment of armour.
He couldn't look more like a recruiting poster if he tried.

A lot of those posters had been torn down in the first week. The Night Guard remained dominated by Nocturnes.

If this whole thing with the foals got out...it would be even worse. Nursery understood why Grave Beetle wanted this all covered up, she got that. But somepony had to get to the issue at the root. Somepony had to make sure the foals were safe. Didn't he get that?

"Is something wrong, Madam?" Grave Beetle's voice jolts her from her musings. Looking at her with a neutral expression. Oh no; she's been staring dreamily at him the whole time!

"No." She says curtly, returning her attention to her case files. "Just lost in thought."

X

Just because she's seen it before doesn't mean Nursery doesn't wince. Faded, slightly tattered banners hang from the balconies, interspersed with bones. Not Nightmare Night props, but actual bone bones. Eugh.

Macabre decorations aside, the tenement block is almost silent. She just can't shake the feeling of being watched.

Grave Beetle isn't disturbed in the slightest, of course. Why would he? This was probably normal for him.
"Allow me to go first, Madam Garden. A familiar face may smooth things out."

"You live here?" If this was his home neighbourhood, it would make sense-

"The tenements are for families, Madam." Faint wistfulness, the first hint of vulnerability she's seen from him. "But I know many of my kith and kin, and hold a respected position. Do you have the case file?"

"Oh, right. Sorry." She didn't mean to upset him. "It's a herd, the Fang Herd. The Herd paperwork is a bit lacking though."

"Roost."

"Pardon?"

"It's a Roost, not a Herd. And we don't have Herd Hierarchy like you ponies do." He flicks an ear dismissively. "I take it they are not cooperating with you?"

Nursery snorts. "No. Two mares are still nursing, two-" she checks the file again just to make sure she's got it the right way around, "two stallions are being ornery and the third mare who committed the assault has been taken into custody. The foal in question has been permitted to remain at home, since the aggressor is detained. This visit is to determine both how the foal is doing, and question the other adult he-roost members. Clear?"

A brief pause. "The mare taken into bonds was named War Dance?"

He hasn't seen the file. "How did you-"

"I know the Fang roost, their character. War Dance is a naturally aggressive mare. She would have protested your investigation most belligerently."

"Well, if you want to do the investigation, sir Chaplain, you feel free!" Okay, so her temper's a little frayed, sue her.

Again, that stupid lack of expression on his face, but she sees that little irritated tail-flick. Hah! Let's see this stoic, know-it-all slab of brick deal with foals...

X

"We want our wife back."

Grave Beetle is on the floor playing with the foals and the two dams, while Nursery is stuck facing down two stallions over the file paperwork. "I can't-"

"You had her taken away in chains!" The one called Wolf Tooth growls. Actually growls. The sharp teeth, ominously sharp, make Nursery sweat a little.

"Surely you can return her?" Adder Tongue adds on smoothly, seamlessly.

She's trapped in this argument with them as they circle her with it, but neither can she actually have their herd-mate released. Truthfully, she's on the edge of tears when Grave Beetle steps up to the table.
Immediately, the two stallions fall silent and incline heads in respect.

"I apologize for interrupting, but the Madam speaks the truth. She does not have the authority to return War Dance, or any of our kith and kin. Rest assured I am working on it though."

Before Nursery can bristle at the notion of Grave Beetle succeeding in closing the cases, he introduces someone else. "Madam Garden, this is Steel Bite." The oldest of the herd's four foals, but still young. Still with the habit of walking with wings outstretched as most Pegasi foals did for that instinctive balance.
Nursery's heart promptly melts as she looks into the big gold eyes. Such a serious little colt! Oh, but what dreadful scarring on his lips...

"He has a question for you, don't you?" Grave Beetle prompts. Wing draped reassuringly over the colt's back, like a doting sire.

"...Why did you have damma taken away?" Eyes watering, lower lip quivering. Oh, the sweetheart...

Nursery's Cutie Mark tells her that this foal wants nothing more than his dam back, and to know why, just in case it was his fault somehow.
"Oh sweetie, it's alright. We wanted to ask your damma why she was hurting your sister there, but your damma got too angry to talk so she was taken away. So your sister doesn't get hurt, and you can all grow up happy and safe."
Nursery has to ask though..."What happened to your muzzle, sweetie? You look like you got hurt really badly."

Eyes light up instantly, sadness forgotten. "I got my Mark!" Little pronking hooves. Baring his flank so she can see...the icon of a mouth full of fangs holding a sword by it's blade. How...lovely.
"There was this tin of mangos, and I loooovvvvvee mangos. But I can't work a tin opener yet...so I decided to bite the tin open! The metal was sharp and cut my mouth a lot and hurt really badly but I got it open and ate all the mangos! There was soooooo much blood though I felt scared and dizzy and then whoosh! I got my Mark! Then my sires came home and took me to Hospital. I got my Mark and some awesome scars!"

How...lovely.

And with her growling stomach making itself known, it gives her an excuse to retreat. Still with more questions than answer.